Apparatus for making sulfuric acid.



G C MEIGS APPARATUS' PoR MAKING SULPURIG ACID.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1910.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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FOR MAKING SULFURIC ACID.

-j Specification. o f Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

" IApplication filed August 31, 1.910. Serial No. 579.907.

7b/JZ atc/10m it may concern vBe itknown that I, CURTIS C. Micros, a citizen of the United States, residing at ivoodbury, in the county of Gloucester and Statoof New .Ierseyr'l'iave invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for. Making Sulfuric cidr'of which the ,foll-owing'is a specification;

This invention relates. to-the manufacture of sulfuric acid by the 'lead chamber process and has particular'reference to certain im- ,.pro'vements .i n' tleapparatus for carrying out .this` process.

Itl is known that the action of nitrogen 'trioxid on sulfur dioxid, oxygen and water is more energetic and'etective if the density of the mixture vis varied, as by compressing and expanding the mixture in the lead chambers, and that when such variation in density is resorted to, as hereinafter described, a given quant-ity of nitrogen trioxid will operate more rapidly by acting a greater number of times on successive mixtures of sulfur dioxid, oxygen and water, and will, therefore, produce a greater yield of sulfuric acid for 4the same quantity of sodium nitrate than when the gases are maintained at a uniform density within the lead chamber. I have found that when the gases are. caused to expand and contract in the lead chamber by virtue of the increased action of the nitro-gen trioxid the chamber space may be reduced, whereby the expense of the construction and maintenance of the plant may be materially reduced. In accordance with Athis theory, I provide apparatus for the .manufacture of sulfuric acid,

comprising one or more lead chambers with means to supply gases used to form the acid to the same, whereby such gases are permitted to expand in the usual way upon entering the chamber, where means are provided within the chamber to compress the gases therein and means also to permit of a second expansion of said gases before leaving the chamber.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts, throughout the saine, Figure 1 'is a side elevation of the apparatus in .which my process is carried out, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

In the drawings, wherein is illustrated. a preferred embodiment of my invention, the

4the surface of the detlector.

'numeral l designates a rectangular casing vsuitable niaterial.` in accordance with the usual practice. The chamber l is provided adjacent one end with an inlet pipe 7 which supplies gases to the chamber. At its oppositeend, the chamber l is provided wit-h a plurality of discharge or outlet pipes 8, as shown.

Disposed within the chamber l, near its center is a'defiector S) comprising an approximately diamond-shaped battle or defiector vwhich is vertically disposed, and extends from the top 4 to the floor The detiector is open at top and bottom to allow of the passage of air therethrough7 to coo-l The walls 4 and haveopenings formed therethrough to register with the open ends of the detlector. The battle or'delector has two of its four sides concave, as shown at 10, while its opposite sides are straight. The exposed sides of this detlector are lead or any other suitable material', as'indicated at 1l.

In using this apparatus in the practice of my process the gases employed to form the sulfuric acid are introduced into the chamber 2 through the pipe 7. These gases are compressed to a certain degree while within the pipe 7, but expand upon entering the .chamber 2. The gases in their movement through the chamber 2 travel forwardly toward the delector and impinge upon the concave sides 10 of the same, whereby they are deflected toward the sides of the chamber, and meeting the gases passing along the same, are energetically mixed. The gases then pass around the ends of the detlector which are spaced away from the side walls of the casing l, as shown, being thereby compressed, and enter that portion of the chamber which is adjacent the discharge pipes 8. After passing the deflector the gases expand within the space between the defiector and the adjacent end wall. tention is called to tbe fact that a plurality of these devices are connected in series, that is to say, the discharge pipes 8 will deliver gases into the supply pipe 7 of a second de.- vice corresponding to the one herein described. The sulfuric acid formed is collect'ed Within the chamber 2, in the usual manner, While the gases pass outwardly through the pipes 8, to be expanded,- con.

tracted and condensed.

The pressures of the gases Within the chamber 1, upon opposite sides of the de- -ie'ctor 9, are equal. The pressure of the gases When passing the ends of the deiiector is materially increased and is substantially equal to the pressure at which such gases are supplied through the .pipe T. Attention is called to the fact that the surfaces of the defiector against which the gases impinge, are concaved, Which materially aids in compressing such gases.

By employing my apparatus, the ordinary more complicated apparatus may be dispensedwith, including pumps and the like.

My apparatus renders the process bf making sulfuric acid continuous and expeditious. l y

.It is believed that the pressure of the gases when the same are passing through the contracted space between the ends of 'the deliector and: the walls of t-he casing l, is increased several ounces.

While ,I have specifically described the preferred embodiment of my\ invention, it is to be understood that such invention is not limited to the specific detailsl set forth, but that numerous changes may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention or the l scope lof the appended claims.,

Copies of this patent may be-obtained for Having described my inventionI claim 1Q In apparatus of the character described, a casing, a single detlectordisposed therein for dividing said casing into two lcompartments, having,communication by means of relatively small passages, said deflector having one side thereof provided With concaved surfaces and the opposite side thereof having straight surfaces', supply and discharge means for said casing arranged near the concaved and straight surfaces of the def-lector, respectively.

',2. In apparatus of the character described,

abasing, a de'lector disposed therein intermediate the ends thereof, said deiector being of sufficient Width to divide said casing into tivo compartments, having communication bylmeans of relativelvsmall. passages, said detlect'or havingpne-side thereof provided with oppositely 4extending concaved-surfaces, means to supply gasesto sald vcaslng to 1mplnge against the curved surfaces, and discliarge means for said casing.

Iii-testimony Whereofl atiix my signature 1n the presence of two wltnesses.

ouaris c. Mmes VILLIAM R. STORRIE, FRANCIS B. DAVIS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

